Ridgefield boy found, father arrested

Staff reports

Updated 11:19 pm, Monday, September 23, 2013

RIDGEFIELD -- Police have found and arrested a 49-year-old man who fled with his 5-year-old son Sunday night, triggering a statewide Amber Alert.

Paul Lupo, of Ridgefield, was charged Monday with violation of a protection order, disorderly conduct, interfering with an emergency call and failure to have a child safety seat in his vehicle.

Police said Lupo got into his a blue 2002 GMC Sierra pickup truck with his son, Francis, and headed for New York after a domestic dispute about 7:30 p.m. Sunday, said Ridgefield Police Capt. Tom Comstock, the department's spokesman.

"That's why the Amber Alert was put out, because that places the child in danger," Comstock said.

Police issued an alert for the child, but canceled it within an hour when authorities found the boy with relatives in the Bronx. The Silver Alert for his father was canceled at about 9:30 p.m. Monday.

It was not immediately clear how Lupo was found. He was processed by police and released after posting $5,000 bond. He is to appear in Danbury Superior Court on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.